An Israeli company has been selected to provide the wireless part of a hybrid wireless connectivity network for Bradford, a city in West Yorkshire in the UK, as part of an extensive smart city project to integrate multiple information and communication technologies city-wide.

Leading millimeter-wave (mmW) developer Siklu will supply its technology for the project, which includes providing the wireless connectivity for more than 300 surveillance cameras and 26 traffic management devices that are deployed in the city, which comprises more than 500,000 residents and is the fourth largest metropolitan district in the country. In areas where the 5GHz noise is high, the city uses the palm sized EH-600 mmW radio from Siklu, which operates in the interference-free 60GHz frequency band. Designed for installation at street level, the EH-600mmW radio provides long-term gigabit capacity in a small unobtrusive size.

The equipment was installed by Bradford-based systems integrator Net View Systems, a specialist provider of integrated electronic security and infrastructure systems. The new Siklu-enabled network connects the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS) to a mix of 300 surveillance cameras from Axis Communications, Bosch Security Systems and HikVision. The mmW system transmits data from hundreds of traffic junctions and 26 variable messaging signs (VMS) that are used for traffic management.

The city is also using Siklu EH-1200 80GHz (E-band) rooftop radios to deliver a backhaul network with 1GB full duplex capacity and 256-bit AES encryption. The E-band links replaced a citywide infrastructure that relied upon expensive leased lines. The EH-1200 80GHz provides future proof capacity with a predictive performance aggregation layer to ensure interference free transmission.

Siklu delivers multi-gigabit fiber-like wireless connectivity in urban, suburban and rural areas. Operating in the 60, 70/80GHz bands, its mmW systems are used by leading integrators, service providers, municipal authorities, and mobile network operators worldwide. Easily installed on street-fixtures or rooftops, the price-competitive radios have proved to be ideal for networks requiring fast and simple deployment of secure, fiber-like and future-proof connectivity. Thousands of carrier grade units delivering interference-free performance have been successfully deployed globally. Siklu’s EtherHaul mmW product family will be showcased at the IFSEC International exhibition in London next week, from June 21-23.

“With the ever increasing capacity requirements associated with providing wireless connectivity, we required a high capacity alternative outside of the congested 5GHz band. Siklu has been rock solid,” said Marc Hancock, managing director of Net View Systems. “Siklu’s Extended Range feature has allowed us to deploy E-band hardware at link distances that would have never otherwise been possible. This has resulted in a huge operating expense saving to the Bradford City Council, as we can do away with licensed microwave links and their expensive annual Ofcom charges.”

Zeev Farkash, VP of global sales at Siklu Communications, commented, “We are pleased to work with Net View Systems on this project for the City of Bradford. Our unique technology benefits include extremely low delays to provide customers with reliable performance, which is critical for safe cities.”

About Author

Tom has edited Traffic Technology International magazine and the Traffic Technology Today website since he joined the company in May 2014. Prior to this he worked on some of the UK's leading consumer magazine titles including Men's Health and Glamour, beginning his career in journalism in 1997 after graduating with a law degree from the London School of Economics (LSE).